The following narrative details the fraudulent behaviour of former Craftsman (Private) soldier Christopher Martin Coote. It reveals the lies told to others to gain recognition, a senior position within the Western Australia Returned and Services League (R&SL), and possible undeserved pension benefits under the Australian Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Repatriation system.

ANZMI have no hesitation is exposing Coote as a military fraud. The facts have been checked, rechecked and confirmed from reliable sources. Statements have been obtained.

Coote served in Afghanistan in the Australian Army, RAEME Corps as a vehicle mechanic for 101 days. From received statements, his service in country was uneventful, and he returned to Australia well short of his original deployment term due to administrative reasons.

He has since falsely claimed an active combat role in Afghanistan, where he allegedly sustained mental health and hearing problems, due to his first hand traumatic battle experiences. - - - Former Craftsman Christopher Coote was born on the 1st December, 1973. He is now 44 years of age and at the time of writing, is the President of the Ellenbrook R&SL Sub Branch, Western Australia. He has held that position since late 2016.

Following Coote’s appointment to that position, he began to seek local media publicity for himself and the work he performs in the veteran community. This is always a risky decision, considering that what you inform a journalist about your own military service will certainly be published, and could be read by colleagues you served with and others.

If that information is blatantly untrue, then the chance of being reported to ANZMI is fairly high.

After seven months in the war-torn country, Mr Coote received multiple traumas and was medically discharged and retired.

The above extract from this article is incorrect. Coote did not serve in country for seven months and witness statements below indicate that he was never placed in a position that would have caused him “multiple traumas”. The Journalist has been contacted and confirmed that this is the information she was told by Coote.

As a result of the above media exposures, ANZMI were contacted by former serving Australian Defence Force personnel who know Coote, and know explicitly what duties he performed in Afghanistan in the Australian Army. He was a mechanic who maintained and serviced Army vehicles on base at Tarin Kowt.

ANZMI was also contacted by members of the public who reported false claims made to them by Coote, regarding his Afghanistan service.

Below are excerpts from statements received regarding Coote.

Witness 1.Chris stated to me that he had been on a mission in a APC (Armoured Personnel Carrier) which hit an IED. (Improvised explosive device)

Chris stated he could not hear properly after this incident and required a medivac out of Afghanistan. At this time he stated he went to Germany prior to being flown to middle east then onto Australia.

Chris also stated the Defence Force was paying for state of the art hearing aids for him and were importing from overseas.

At this time he also stated he was very stressed as he had been told it was likely he would be medically discharged from the Army due to his injuries sustained whilst on deployment in Afghanistan.

Witness 2.Coote stated the following to me -; He was in a Bushmaster vehicle in Afghanistan when an IED exploded nearby and that he was subjected to enemy fire. He was blown up whilst travelling in a Bushmaster vehicle. He was at Tarin Kowt when the base received rocket fire and he had to spend hours in a bunker during this attack. That on two occasions when he was in an Army truck, he was hit by rocket fire. He was traumatised because he killed people. He had sustained injuries from jumping out of helicopters, whilst wearing full kit and whilst on patrol.

Witness 3. (Former service person)I can confirm that Chris Coote did enter country in late Feb or early March and was housed in Tarin Kowt, Camp Holland (TK) along with the rest of CTD. During his short time at TK Chris was not exposed to any traumatic events that I nor others who were there can recall. I along with others am almost certain Chris did not exit the base during his short time at TK, if he did it might have been for a re-sup run on a day trip. There would be records of this somewhere. He did not deploy from TK on any missions.

I was however very surprised when I was shown a copy of his AC563 (injury form) which said that Chris was exposed to excessive machine gun fire, IED explosions and rotary wing aircraft (helicopter).

The next thing that I would like to mention is that he has told members of the public that he was “blown up” in a Bushmaster; I assure you this is not true. I know soldiers who actually were blown up and for someone to claim this falsely is a huge slap in the face to these veterans who have suffered immensely from their experience.

He has also mentioned to other people that he was in Afghanistan with the SAS!!! Once again a huge lack of respect for the men and women who actually did do this.

I have since found out that Chris has been trying out for selection to the Invictus games. An event used to help heal the mental and physical wounds of people who need it. This is disgraceful behavior from Chris, potentially taking the position of someone who needs it.

Witness 4. (Former service person)Recently it has been brought to my attention that Coote has been egregiously embellishing his time in Afghanistan up to and including claiming not only time in contact with the enemy but also being involved in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) strike on a Bushmaster Armoured Vehicle, to which he has stated that he was Med Evaced to Germany suffering injuries

I was not only a member of the same Combat Team as Coote but was also there for the entire deployment. Whilst I wasn’t always a firsthand witness to every single incident involving soldiers from CT-D, I was privy to every incident that happened in CT-D (either through word of mouth, reading (deleted by ANZMI), or being there on the ground). At no time during his time in Afghanistan was Coote involved in any small arms engagements with anybody or was he involved in any of the IED strikes that happened in CT-D.

In fact the very first IED strike on any soldiers from CT-D happened on the 19th of May 2010 to a dismounted section (of infantry, Artillery, & Combat Engineers) belonging to 12 platoon, I can categorically state that Coote was not involved with this because not only was I the (deleted by ANZMI) of the patrol in question but this incident happened after his return to Australia and the only soldier who was returned home injured from this incident was Private (name deleted by ANZMI).

Whilst there were IED strikes on vehicles during the deployment none of these strikes happened to any vehicles within CT-D or any call signs that soldiers from CT-D were attached to. Coote only ever ‘left the wire’ on one 3 day Combat Team mission from Multi National Base Tarin Kowt to Patrol Base Atiq (where he remained for the duration of the 3 days) and back again (March 2010), he was mounted in a Bushmaster on both road moves and the mission had no small arms engagements or IED strikes during the 3 days.

Coote has fabricated both incidents and, in my opinion, done so to make himself appear to be a battle hardened combat veteran which is not only untrue but also an insult to the other genuine combat veterans who served in CT-D. ---END.

ANZMI is able to provide more excerpts from these statements and also other statements obtained regarding Coote’s false claims. However, It does not take the matter any further.

Coote was extended an invitation by ANZMI to respond to reports received regarding his alleged claims of Afghanistan service and the mental and physical disabilities incurred from that service.

He denied every allegation other than -;

He was at Tarin Kowt when the base received rocket fire and he had to spend hours in a bunker during this attack.

He stated that he was present when the Base received rocket fire from the enemy. His fellow soldier compatriots disagree.

Coote is former soldier who served in Afghanistan as part of the Australian Defence Force commitment. He has told a lot of lies to a lot of people, including members of the Ellenbrook RSL Sub Branch, where he is their President.

ANZMI will be notifying the Department of Veterans Affairs, Fraud Unit and we will assist that Government Department in providing the necessary evidence to have Coote’s claims reviewed.

The Western Australia State RSL Branch also need to have a very close look at Coote’s claims due to his credibility to remain as President of the Ellenbrook RSL Sub Branch.

Coote should just resign and save them a great deal of trouble.

Welcome to the ANZMI website, Mr Christopher Martin Coote.

UPDATE. July 2018.

ANZMI has been informed by Sub Branch members that Christopher Coote resigned the position of President of the Ellensbrook RSL Sub Branch on the 21 June, 2018, following contact by ANZMI requesting confirmation of his claims.